Attendance
Good attendance is very important for your child and poor attendance has a detrimental effect on their success at school.
The law states that your child must attend school on every occasion that it is open unless there is a reason that enables the Head Teacher to authorise the absence under the Regulations. The law also states that it is parents' responsibility to ensure their child attends school regularly.
Our attendance target for this year is 97%.
Alston Primary School, is dedicated to working in partnership with parents and the Local Authority to improve school attendance.
Ensuring that your child/ren are in school each day, will give them the best possible chance to achieve their academic potential and have real opportunity in further education and the world of work.
Attendance = Achievement!
The Importance of Being in School Every Day
Being in school every day will enable your child to:
- access the lessons needed to achieve their expected grades
- maintain friendships and develop new ones
- have access to social and sporting events offered by the school
- explore potential careers
- develop work habits such as good punctuality which are essential to thrive in the world of employment
The Importance of Being in School on Time Each Day
The chart below explains how many days your child will miss if they do not attend school every day:
Poor punctuality can lead to your child…
- Feeling embarrassed in front of their friends
- Missing the beginning of vital lessons
- Missing important instructions for the rest of the school day
- Learning habits which could affect their employability in the future
The chart below explains how many days of school your child will miss if they do not attend school on time each day.
|
Minutes late per day during the school year: |
Equals days’ worth of teaching lost in a year: |
|
5 minutes |
3.4 days |
|
10 minutes |
6.9 days |
|
15 minutes |
10.3 days |
|
20 minutes |
13.8 days |
|
30 minutes |
20.7 days |
How can I get Help with my Child's Attendance?
If you are worried about your child/children’s attendance the first port of call is to discuss your concerns with the school directly. The school has an attendance team who may be able to help, and all schools work closely with health and council teams who may also be able to help if needed.
If you have concerns about mental health; domestic abuse; parenting; bereavement; finance; problems with drugs and alcohol; you can find help and support from the ‘From Birmingham with Love’ webpage: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/love
Additionally, Birmingham City Council provides online information and guidance to parents on school attendance which you can access here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/saap
What about Term Time Leave?
Family holidays in term time are not allowed in law and are unlikely to be authorised. Family emergencies also need careful consideration. It is not always appropriate or in the best interests of the child to miss school for emergencies which are being dealt with by adult family members. Notifying the school of leave due to a family emergency does not mean it will be authorised.
Please see the poster below for information on new rules that have come into action from August 2024 and what these rules will mean for you and your children.
Legal Action
Please note that where parents fail to ensure their child attends school regularly, legal action, including penalty notices, may be considered
Section 7 of the Education Act 1996 states that as a Parent/carer of a child of statutory school age, you have a legal responsibility to ensure their full time education through regular attendance at school or otherwise.
National Framework for Penalty Notices for School Absence
Leigh Trust Notice for Parents
New National Penalty Notice Framework
